Amphion Grant Foundation, Inc.

Guidelines for the 2016 grant program appear below. The application system currently open. The next application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 1, 2016

AMPHION FOUDNATION GRANT PROGRAM DEADLINES:

The spring deadline is on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time for Performing Ensembles. Eligible ensemble types included: Ballet/Dance; Chamber Ensemble; Chamber Orchestra; Choral/Vocal; Opera; and Orchestra. This application period is now closed. The next deadline is Friday, April 1, 2016. The online application system will open during the first week of February, approximately eight weeks prior to the deadline. Notification will be sent by the end of July, 2016.

The second deadline will be on  Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time  for organizations that are not performing ensembles (i.e. Education/Residency; Festival; Library/Archive; Presenter; Radio/TV; and Music Service Organization). Notification will be sent by the end of January, 2017.

Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by publicly supported non-profit performing ensembles, presenters and music service organizations that have a history of substantial commitment to contemporary concert music at a high level of excellence. Organizations must have been in existence for at least two years. Performing ensembles, presenters, or organizations that are applying for support for performances must have presented two full seasons prior to the season for which support is requested, except for special projects of extraordinary significance. In that case, one must contact the Grants Manager for approval prior to beginning an application. Applications from organizations with a budget of over $10 million will be considered only for special project support. The Grants Manager should be contacted for approval prior to beginning an application. Please note that, in general, the grant program does not support jazz music.

The Foundation does not accept proposals for:  

• Commissions to composers  
• Endowment funding
• Audio or audio-visual recordings of any kind
• Music publishing projects
• Projects that are part of the curriculum of an educational institution
• Installations
• Composition competitions

Except for certain choral groups, only professional choral ensembles may apply. Proposals are accepted from amateur choral ensembles and youth choirs performing contemporary classical music at an exceptionally high artistic level.

If you have any further questions about your organization's eligibility, please see the FAQs.

Funding Provisions

Applicants other than orchestras and opera companies may request either general operating support or support for special projects. All orchestras and opera companies, except for contemporary music specialists, are eligible to apply only for special project support. Applicants should be aware that support in one year does not imply continuation of that support. In general, special projects relating to a broad spectrum of contemporary music will be viewed more favorably than those relating to a single work or a single composer. In general, grants will range between $1,000 and $7,500, although larger grants may be awarded to larger performing organizations with an extraordinary commitment to contemporary concert music or a particularly significant project.

Criteria

The following criteria will be applied in evaluating grant proposals:

• History of high-quality performances of, or otherwise substantially fostering the public knowledge and appreciation of, contemporary concert music;
• The significant contributions the organization has made in the past and those it is likely to make in the future;
• The responsibility and effectiveness of management.

How to Apply

The application deadline for performing ensembles is on Friday, April 1, 2016. The non-performing ensemble deadline is Thursday, September 15, 2016.

Using the Online Application System to Submit all Materials

If your organization does not already have an account on our site:

You will need to create a new account. We will approve new accounts as quickly as possible, but please allow a minimum of two business days for approval. We may need to contact you during this process.

If your organization already has an account on our site:

Log in here. Then click on the "Start Application" button at the top of this page to begin the online application process. You may work on your proposal and must save it as you go along. It is not necessary to complete the application in one session.

You will need to supply the following information:

Organization Information

• Contact information, including current e-mail address.
• A copy of the IRS determination letter confirming tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that the applicant is not a private foundation. If the applicant organization is not based in the United States, submit a letter from a lawyer confirming its equivalence to a publicly funded 501(c)(3) organization.
• Federal tax ID number
• Three-year financial snapshot

Applicant Information

• Type of organization
• Please note: Those music service organizations that apply for a project involving the presentation of music must apply as presenters so that they can submit required audio samples.
• Mission of the organization
• If the applicant is a performing ensemble or presenter, or is applying for support for performances, the number of concerts projected in the season for which support is being requested and the two years prior.

Proposal

• State the specific time period for which support is requested.
• Indicate the amount and type of support (general operating or project support) requested, and purpose of the request. Note that orchestras and opera companies, other than contemporary music specialists, may apply only for project support.
• If project support is requested, please provide a description of the project, a breakdown of the project costs, and an itemized list of other sources of income for the project with the amount of support from each source. Also note whether support from each source has been secured or is prospective funding.
• History of the organization listing all of the activities in which it has been engaged during the past two years and the activities in which it proposes to engage during the season for which support is being requested.
• Description of the constituencies or audiences that are served, including size, age groups, and geographic regions.
• For dance projects or opera projects, the Foundation encourages, but does not require, inclusion of links to video work samples of the company and the project’s director or choreographer. Video samples should involve contemporary music. If a suitable video is available, please include a link in the “Miscellaneous Remarks” box of the “Proposal” section of the application.

Musical Materials (required only for performing ensembles and presenting organizations, or those that are applying for support for performances)

For performing ensembles, please submit:

• For ensembles up to 13 players, a list of performers who comprise the ensemble. Please indicate the date of the beginning of their participation as permanent members of the ensemble. Please also indicate the number of non-permanent players who perform in each season.
• Recordings of three contemporary compositions performed by the ensemble and recorded within the current performance season and the two performance seasons immediately prior (i.e, for the 2016 round, within the 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons). Each recording should be between three and five minutes in length (excerpts are acceptable).
• Please submit recordings of live performances rather than edited studio sessions unless no live recordings are available. Musical examples should demonstrate the performance quality of the core members of the ensemble playing together in representative repertoire, rather than feature extended soloistic passages.
• For each recording submitted, provide the title of the work, names of the composer and performer(s) and date of the performance.
• For one of the three recordings a score must be supplied, and must be marked at the point at which listening is to begin. Scores in PDF format are strongly preferred, however scores sent by mail to the foundation office and postmarked no later than April 1 are also acceptable.
• For each recording submitted, provide the title of the work, names of the composer and performer(s) and date of the performance.
• If project support is being requested for the work of a particular composer(s), please include a recording of a representative sample of the work of that composer(s), even if the recording is by performers other than the applicant ensemble.

For presenters and music service organizations with proposals that include the performance of music, please submit:

• One recording each of three of the ensembles engaged to perform during the season for which support is being requested, performing contemporary concert music. All recordings must have been recorded within the current performance season and the two performance seasons immediately prior (i.e., for the 2016 round, within the 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons). Each recording should be between 3 and 5 minutes in length. (Excerpts are acceptable).
• Recordings should be of live performances and not edited studio sessions unless no live recordings are available. Work samples should demonstrate the performance quality of the ensemble playing together in representative repertoire, rather than featuring extended soloistic passages.
• For each recording submitted, provide the title of the work, names of the composer and performer(s) and date of the performance.
• If project support is being requested for the work of a particular composer(s), please include a recording of a representative sample of the work of that composer(s), even if the recording is by performers other than the relevant ensemble.

Supporting Materials

• If the applicant is a performing ensemble, presenter, or is applying for support for performances, a list of all performances and repertoire for the season for which support is being requested and the two years prior, including identification of the performing artists or organizations, if applicable. This should amount to three consecutive years of information. Please do not submit this list in the form of season brochures.
• A list with award amounts of foundation, corporate, and government support for the season for which support is being requested and the two years prior. This should amount to three consecutive years of support information. (Projections are acceptable for the coming year and, to the extent necessary, the current year.) For the year for which you are requesting support, it is required to differentiate between secured funding and prospective funding.
• A list of members of the Board of Directors (or equivalent) and their principal affiliations.
• Organizational budgets for the season for which support is being requested and the two years prior. This should amount to three consecutive years of financial information.  Note that use of the Foundation’s three-year budget template is required.  Organizations that do not submit budgets using the template are unlikely to be funded.  There is space on this form for appending any explanatory notes regarding the budgets.  Please be sure that your total income and expenses for each year in the template match those in the Financial Summary you submitted in the “Organization Information” section of your application.
• Also submit your most recent audited financial statement, if available. (Not every organization is required to have an audited financial statement; however, if your organization has one for any of the past three fiscal years, you are required to submit the latest one.)

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 1, 2016. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in or about the July following the application deadline. Please do not contact the Foundation for information on funding decisions.

IMPORTANT: You are responsible for complying with all legal and contractual requirements that may apply to the creation of your materials. The Amphion Foundation hereby disclaims all legal responsibility in connection with your submissions. In case of questions, consult your legal advisor.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") Policy

Inquiries

Prospective applicants are first encouraged to read the Frequently Asked Questions. If your question is not answered there, please contact the Grants Manager prior to the time of application.

Telephone: 212-461-6956
E-mail: grantsmanager@amphionfoundation.org

Hard copies of scores should be addressed to:

The Amphion Foundation, Inc.

254 West 31st Street, 15th floor

New York, NY 10001

Attn:  Grants Manager

Revised February 5, 2016

Download the 2015 guidelines as a PDF